Friday, January 13, 2017

Let's Read Surah Kahf Today (Friday) -- Being Powerful

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate

Assalaamu alaykum

It does not matter how much you have or how powerful you are, Truth is not related to anything but sound faith. If you’re powerful, but you don’t have a relationship with Allah Almighty, you are totally weak. And if you’re seen as weak by people but you have a strong relationship with Allah, this is powerful.

You are powerful when Allah loves you.

How do you attain Allah's love? There is no short cut towards it. We have to take steps to Allah, we have to work, we have to struggle, we have to make sacrifices.

In the story of the companions of the Kahf, we find great sacrifices. Society does not reinforce positive Islamic attitude and behavior. So, going against the grain, going against the tide, being strong and clinging to Allah and trusting Allah is a very important message to take from this story.

Reciting Surah Kahf every Friday and at least the first 10 verses and last 10 verses every night will keep us reminded and inspired to keep going with the struggle.

No matter how great, successful and accomplished we are, we have to realize that everything is due to Allah’s unlimited blessings upon us. The story of Dhul-Qarnayn in the Surah is a great example of a powerful and knowledgeable king who used his power and knowledge assisting people and spreading good from the east to the west, while remembering Allah, relying on Allah and putting his trust in Allah.

قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَ‌حْمَةٌ مِّن رَّ‌بِّى ۖ فَإِذَا جَآءَ وَعْدُ رَ‌بِّى جَعَلَهُۥ دَكَّآءَ ۖ وَكَانَ وَعْدُ رَ‌بِّى حَقًّا ﴿٩٨

[Dhul-Qarnayn] said, "This is a mercy from my Lord; but when the promise of my Lord comes, He will make it level, and ever is the promise of my Lord true." (98)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:98]

We have to be humble before Allah, make abundant supplication, manifesting our neediness, in obedience to Allah’s command:
وَقَالَ رَ‌بُّكُمُ ٱدْعُونِىٓ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُ‌ونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِ‌ينَ ﴿٦٠

And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible. (60)
[Qur'an, Ghafir 40:60]

That was exactly what the youth in Surah al-Kahf did when they retreated to the cave -- they called upon Allah.
إِذْ أَوَى ٱلْفِتْيَةُ إِلَى ٱلْكَهْفِ فَقَالُوا۟ رَ‌بَّنَآ ءَاتِنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَ‌حْمَةً وَهَيِّئْ لَنَا مِنْ أَمْرِ‌نَا رَ‌شَدًا ﴿١٠

[Mention] when the youths retreated to the cave and said, "Our Lord, grant us from Yourself mercy and prepare for us from our affair right guidance." (10)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:10]

And Allah immediately answered their du'a and took it upon Himself to protect and care for them while they sleep for over 300 years in the cave.
فَضَرَ‌بْنَا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ فِى ٱلْكَهْفِ سِنِينَ عَدَدًا ﴿١١

So We cast [a cover of sleep] over their ears within the cave for a number of years. (11)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:11]
وَلَبِثُوا۟ فِى كَهْفِهِمْ ثَلَـٰثَ مِا۟ئَةٍ سِنِينَ وَٱزْدَادُوا۟ تِسْعًا ﴿٢٥

And they remained in their cave for three hundred years and exceeded by nine. (25)
[Qur'an, Al-Kahf 18:25]

This is powerful when Allah makes you His friend. So, don't waste any more time -- struggle towards Him.

May Allah grant us from Himself mercy and make us of those He loves and follow His guidance. Ameen.

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam.

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all.

Wassalaam

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